128 California Poultry Practice 



growing stock when the food is not well proportioned so that the 

 bony structure can keep up with the flesh and muscular parts of the 

 body. Symptoms of leg weakness are an unsteady gait, wabbling 

 around, sometimes giving right up and lying down, where it remains 

 an object of pity and contempt by its fellows. The bird should be re- 

 moved to a shady place and fed separately a little grain and fresh 

 ground bone. Keep it on that diet until the flesh is reduced, and if 

 it does not get strong there is no use fussing with it. Feed it up and 

 kill, as it will be a trouble more or less. It is noticeable that very few 

 pullets ever show leg weakness, but generally the fast growing cock- 

 erels that outstrip the rest of the flock. Give them milk to drink 

 along with wheat and ground bone, but no dosing. 



Rheumatism, — This trouble is no respecter of sex, age or size, for 

 it attacks all alike that are in any way susceptible. The surest symp- 

 tom of rheumatism is the swelling of the joints, a contraction of the 

 limbs and a slight rise in the temperature. 



Sudden changes in climate, from a dry to a wet, will sometimes 

 cause a sudden attack of acute rheumatism. If the bird is carried 

 over that period it often gets better and is not troubled again. It is 

 seldom fatal, though it has been known to reach the heart and cause 

 death. But a bird with rheumatic tendency is of very little value and 

 if more than one attack is had, the bird is better killed. Such fowls 

 should never be used as breeders even if theodbgeet y g m Ifssitgwild 

 should never be used as breeders even if they do get better, for the ten- 

 dency will be transmitted to the offspring. 



The only internal treatment that will do any good is to add iodide 

 of potassium to the drinking water, fifteen grains to the quart of 

 water. But when this is given the bird must above all things be kept 

 dry and warm, or the remedy will be worse than the disease. Give a 

 straw bed and keep the bird dry while under treatment and it will 

 soon recover. 



Cramps. — This disease very rarely troubles older fowls or chicks 

 raised by hens, or in fireless brooders. It is caused by overheated 

 brooders, overcrowding, and as in leg weakness the growth of bone 

 and muscle does not correspond, circulation is hindered and cramps 

 occur. The remedy is in giving the chicks more room, lowering the 

 heat and inducing the chicks to exercise by feeding the chick feed in 

 finely cut alfalfa or straw. Medicine is of no avail in such things, but 

 strict attention to good sanitary brooding will soon improve the 

 chicks and cramps will disappear. 



Bumble Foot. — Bumble foot is almost unknown among the small 

 breeds. It is caused chiefly by a bruise, such as a heavy bird jump- 

 ing off too high a perch onto a board floor, would sustain. Or some- 

 times the bird gets a sliver in the foot that causes it to gather pus. 



